Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Dewar and Finn Frank
Subject(s): Animals--Color, Books and reading, Elk, Natural selection, Pamphlets, Thayer, Abbott Handerson, 1849-1921
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Theodore Roosevelt finished Douglas Dewar and Frank Finn’s “delightful and illuminating book.” He sends his pamphlet, which criticizes Abbott Handerson Thayer’s “preposterous work” and uniquely examines the theory of concealing coloration. Roosevelt agrees with Dewar and Finn’s points of over-theorizing and their emphasis on experiments and first-hand field observations. Additionally, he sends his article addressing Alfred Russel Wallace’s “preposterous theory” about antelope horns. He cautiously dissects several of the authors’ points, including dark coloration’s relation to aggression and the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-12-02
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Dewar, Douglas, 1875-1957; Finn, Frank, 1868-1932
Language
English
Period
Progressive Party Candidate (1911-1912)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
4
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Dewar and Finn Frank. [December 2, 1911]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o221586. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Dewar and Finn Frank. [2 Dec. 1911]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o221586.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1911, December 2]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Dewar and Finn Frank.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o221586.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
